2013

Vision
We strive to attract and educate exceptional students who are passionate about making a difference in the lives of individuals, families, and organizations. As faculty, our greatest desire is to help students gain the knowledge and skills necessary to design meaningful experiences that engage, heal, build relationships, create joy, and provide opportunities to foster personal growth. We also believe it is our responsibility to help students prepare for and obtain high quality career opportunities. Additionally, we seek opportunities to contribute to our academic and professional fields through the production of exceptional scholarly and outreach activities.
Subsequently, we are consistently recognized as a top program in the country for scholarly productivity.
Mission
We enhance well-being for individuals, families, and organizations by producing and sharing knowledge that inspires and prepares people to create or engage in meaningful recreational experiences.
Core Values

We value the role wholesome recreation plays in the well-being of individuals, families, and organizations.

We care about our students and respect their human potential.

We are committed to the professional preparation of our students.

We value dynamic learning environments.

We strive to make meaningful contributions to both recreation related research and practice.
Department motto or tag line
Creating meaningful recreational experiences

Strategic Priorities
Academic Year 2013 – Academic Year 2015
Priority 1: Improve career placement opportunities for students
Year Objective
2013-14
2013 - 15
Develop advisory boards for EIM and TR with the specific mission of facilitating student networking in order to find internships and jobs.
Support the EVM and TR clubs in sponsoring an annual internship fair.
Leadership
EIM and TR coordinators
Club Advisors
2014 - 15 Secure a full-time relationship manager to:

Foster connections with agencies to hire
RecM students

Track student placement

Regularly review the department career website and LinkedIn group to update and correct.

Expand alumni relations

Track students to determine if they are actively engaging in activities suggested on the RecM Careers Website

Assist with the EIM Conference
Continue to expand LinkedIn group to better connect with students, expand alumni relations, and build professional networks.
Department Chair,
Career Placement
Person
2014 Mat Duerden,
Mark Widmer,
Internship supervisors
Brian Hill 2015 Have a functioning “on campus internship” program.
Priority 2: Revise therapeutic recreation program to strengthen position in the college
Year
July 2014
Leadership
TR Coordinator
2014
Objective
TR faculty will provide program revision recommendations to the department faculty and
Marriott School deans for approval.
TR Faculty will review accreditation standards, career opportunities, professional input, and other sources to identify interest and career opportunities for a TR program with a strong business curriculum.
TR Coordinator

Priority 3: Revise graduate program to strengthen position in the college
Year Objective
2013-2014
Leadership
Graduate
Coordinator
Identify three viable strategies for accommodating more graduate students prior to admitting a new class on February 1, 2014.
Possible strategies include: multiple students working on different aspects of one project, assigning students to faculty research projects, developing an “applied” thesis (similar to project).
2013-2014 Graduate
Coordinator
2014
2013 - 2015
Facilitate continued discussion regarding the focus of our graduate program (professional prep OR doctoral prep) and develop curriculum proposal for fall 2014. This could include a broader focus with opportunities for professional track students as well as thesis track students
Update and refine the 3+2 program proposal prior to the fall curriculum change deadline (for possible future use).

Talk to professionals about potential graduate program changes to gain feedback and assess interest/need.
Increase graduate student recruitment by attending and having a presence at graduate fairs across Utah and on campus.
Graduate
Coordinator
Graduate
Coordinator
Priority 4: Design and adopt strategies to recruit high-quality students
Year
2013
2014
Objective
Develop and refine ideas for promoting the recreation major to students.
Develop a marketing plan for the department to attract high-quality students and promote the department to the college and university.
Leadership
Peter Ward, Brad
Harris
Peter Ward, Brad
Harris
Priority 5: Continue to foster a climate of high levels of research productivity
Year
Annual
Annual
Annual
Objective
Attract high quality graduate students each year
Continue to collaborate with department faculty; utilize department research and writing teams
Encourage and support presentations of research papers at national conferences
Leadership
Graduate
Coordinator
All Faculty
Department Chair

Priority 6: Document the quality and impact of department outreach efforts that educate and inspire people to create or engage in meaningful recreation experiences
Year Objective Leadership
Annual Department Chair and Secretary
Annual
Annual
Annual
Annual
Annual
Document and measure faculty presentations to academic, professional, and community audiences (in person, on radio, TV, magazines, social media)
Document and measure faculty projects that develop programs to teach others to create or engage in meaningful recreation experiences
Measure the number of annual internship (off and on campus) hours provided by students
Place and document students in career positions of influence
Document number of hours of student outreach that provides programs and services to the community.
Produce a department impact report to share with the college, alumni, and students. This would include both academic and professional impacts
Department Chair
Internship
Coordinators
Career Placement
Department Chair and Secretary
Department Chair and Secretary